A Pizza Express restaurant it set to open in Formby.

A Pizza Express restaurant is set to open in Formby village where Dorothy Perkins used to be located on the 1st February 2017.

The menu will include a pizza menu, children’s meals, a takeaway service, a drinks menu and it also offers lighter “low fat” pizzas.

This is not the first time that Pizza Express have said they were opening and then changed their minds. In January 2011, the Southport Visiter reported that the pizza company was to open a brand new 100 seater two-floor eatery that will seat 100 people. They pulled out of that and then Southport Visiter again reported in February 2014 that the restaurant chain would be opening its doors at The Beacons on Halsall Lane offering 15 new jobs.

The opening of Pizza Express in Formby will offer new jobs and they are already currently recruiting for a manager. A Pizza Express spokeswoman said: “The design is always very personal to the area so we would normally inspiration from the local area for the art work.“We sometimes use local art work. We also sometimes use local photographers and artists to supply it for our residents.“It’s always heavily influenced by the local area so it won’t look anything like any other Pizza Express. It will look very personal.“We are very excited to be opening up there and look forward to people coming for a visit and we look forward to people checking out our new restaurant.”

Founder Peter Boizot launched the first Pizza Express in London in 1965. He was inspired after a visit to Northern Italy, where he tasted his first pizza in 1948 and since then a chain of restaurants have opened. A Pizza Express spokeswoman said: “We open a restaurant where we feel there is a demand and where we find a good site.”